Folding chair



Jan. 8, 1963 L. A. HELLER ETAL 3,

FOLDING CHAIR Filed May 14. 1960 uvmvroxs LEON A. HELLER, Rsua/u GERALD Geuuowa 5) OER/AN & BLACK/1AM United States Patent Ofifice 3,012,433 Patented Jan. 8, 1963 3,072,433 FOLDING CHAIR Leon A. Heller and Reuhin Gerald Gruudvig, Burbank,

Calif., assignors to Jerrylee Manufacturing Corporation, Burbank, Calif., a corporation of California Filed Dec. 14, 1960, Ser. No. 75,776 2 Claims. (Cl. 297-40) This invention pertains to new and improved folding chairs.

Many different types of folding chairs are known at this time. Such chairs are frequently designed and built so as to be used by adults. Many folding chairs are, of course, utilized in the juvenile field. Thus, for example, many parents are familiar with folding high chairs which are capable of being folded up so as to be stored when not in use. Practically always such folding high chairs include side arms which support an appropriate type of feeding tray.

Such so-called high chairs are frequently of limited utility by virtue of the fact that they are not large enough to accommodate an adult. As a result of this a high chair is of limited utility in the average household, and can only be used for a limited time as a child is growing up. After a child no longer fits a high chair the high chair itself normally must be stored or disposed of at an economic loss since it can not be satisfactorily utilized by adults or by children who are too large for it.

An object of the present invention is to provide new and improved folding chairs. More specifically, however, an object of this invention is to provide folding chairs having arm rests which are specifically designed and adapted to be used as high chairs, but which are constructed in sucha way that the arms on such chairs may be folded to an inactive position so that these chairs may be used for normal or utility purposes by individuals who cannot be accommodated in them When the arms rests on them are in a conventional position. Another object of the present invention is to provide new and improved folding chairs capable of being easily moved or adjusted to different open positions and a folded position, which chairs are comparatively inexpensive to manufacture are very satisfactory for multi-purpose use.

These and various other objects of this invention as well as many specific advantages of it will be more fully apparent from a detailed consideration of the remainder of this specification including the appended claims and the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a presently preferred embodiment of a folding chair of this invention constructed so as to be used as a high chair, certain parts of this chair being shown in phantom;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the chair shown in FIG. 1 in a folded position; and

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of this same chair in another open position in which the arm rests are not employed.

While the accompanying drawing is primarily intended so as to clearly illustrate or describe a presently preferred embodiment or form of the invention, this drawing is not to be considered as limiting this inventtion. Various changes of a routine design or engineering nature falling within the skill of those familiar with the design and manufacture of folding chairs may be made in the precise folding chair illustrated without departing from this invention as defined in the appended claims. This invention is summarized in detail by these claims which form a part of this specification. v

As an aid to understanding this invention it may be stated, however, that it concerns folding chairs which have seats pivotally connected to a support member in such a manner that these seats may be rotated between open positions in which they extend from such support members to closed positions in which they extend generally along such support members. In accordance with this invention along at least one side of such a folding chair an arm is pivotally attached to a support member above the seat and a brace is pivotally connected to the arm remote from this support member and to the seat remote from the support member. In accordance with this invention these pivot connections are so spaced and located so that when the seat is rotated to a closed position the pivot connections along the arm are aligned with the pivot connection on the brace remote from the arm. With this type of structure the seat may be rotated to an open position in which the arm is supported generally parallel to the seat or may be rotated to an open position in which the arm extends generally along the support member as in the closed position.

The actual details of this invention are best more fully explained by referring directly to the accompanying drawing. Here there is shown a folding chair 10 which is formed so as to utilize the principles of this invention. This particular chair 10 is primarily intended to be used as a childs common high chair. It employs two back legs 12 and two front legs 14. These support members 12 and 14 are designated herein by this terminology because of the positions of their upper extremities to the chair 10. Each leg 12 is interconnected intermediate its ends about the midpoint of one of the legs 14 by means of a first pivot pin 16. These pivot pins 16 are aligned with one another; they permit the front legs 14 to be rotated between open positions as indicated in FIGS. 1 and 3 of the drawing and a closed position as indicated in FIG. 2.

For structural reasons it is normally preferred to interconnect the upper most extremities of the front legs 14 by means of a crossbar 18. With the particular construction shown this crossbar 18 is physically a part of both the front legs 14, and serves to cause them to rotate in synchronism with one another as they are moved between these open and closed positions. The lowermost extremities of the back legs 12 are also preferably interconnected by means of another crossbar 20', while the uppermost extremities of these back legs 12 are interconnected by means of a rigid seat back 22. The crossbar 20 and the seat back 22 serve the function of holding the back legs 12 generally parallel to one another at all times. From a consideration of the preceding it will be realized that the front legs 14 are also held so as to extend generally parallel to one another.

In the chair 10 a seat bottom 24 is pivotally supported on the back legs 12 by means of second pivot pins 26. These pivot pins are aligned with one another so as to permit the seat bottom 24 to be rotated between an open position as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 of the drawing and a closed position as indicated in FIG. 2. For structural convenience this seat bottom 24 carries on its unclersurface-a bracket 28 defining a slot 30 within which the crossbar 18 is retained. This bracket 28 serves to prevent the front legs 14 from being rotated further from the back legs 12 than in desired open positions as indicated in FIGS. 1 and 3 of the drawing and allows the front legs 14 to be rotated back to a closed position as indicated in FIG. 2 of the drawing. Contact of the seat bottom 24 against the front legs 14 prevents these front legs 14 from being rotated in an undesired manner beyond such a closed position.

In effect, the bracket 28 and the seat bottom 24 cooperate and serve as a means of limiting rotating of the front legs '14 between open. and closed positions. During such rotation of the front legs 14 the seat bottom 24 is, of course, rotated slightly. With this construction the engagement of the seat bottom 24 to the crossbar -18 in either of the open positions shown serves to support this seat bottom 24 so that it extends generally from the back legs 12 while in a closed position this seat bottom 24 extends generally along these back legs 12.

In accordance with this invention at each of the sides of the chair '10 an arm rest 32 is pivotally mounted by means of a third pivot pin 34 upon each of the back legs 12 above the seat bottom 24. These pivot pins 34 are aligned with one another and are located adjacent to the uppermost extremities of the back legs 12 about midway between the upper and lower ends of the seat back 22. In order to cause the arm rests 32 to rotate in synchronism with one another it is preferred to connect them by means of a further crossbar 36 which extends generally parallel to the seat back 22. In the construction shown the crossbar 36 is made integrally with the arm rest 32 so that these three parts are manufactured as a single part.

Braces or links 38 are pivotally connected to the extremities of each of the arm rests 32 remote from the third pivot pins 34 by means of fourth pivot pins 4'3. These fourth pivot pins 49 are located adjacent to ends or extremities of the braces 38. The other ends of the extremities of the braces 38 are connected by means of fifth pivot pins 42 to the seat bottom 24 adjacent to the front edge 44 of the seat bottom. It will, of course, be realized that this front edge 44 constitutes an extremity of the seat bottom 24- which is remote from the back legs 2 when the chair is in either of the open positions shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 of the drawing.

The spacing of the second pivot pins 26, the third pivot pins 34, the fourth pivot pins 40, and the fifth pivot pins 42 and the lengths of the distances between these pivot pins is considered to be extremely important with this invention in order to achieve a chair such as the chair which is capable of being adjacented or folded to various positions as indicated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawing. The arms 32 and the braces 38 are pivotally connected together by means of the pins 34, 4d and 42 so as to constitute what may be referred to as a toggle. Such a structure of a toggle type is of a nature so that in a so-called center position corresponding to the folded position of the chair 10 indicated in FIG. 2 the arms 32 and the braces 38 are aligned with one another. In this position the pins 34-, 40 and 42 are aligned as shown. The seat bottom 24 is connected to the back legs 12 and the braces 38 in such a manner as to cause it to be rotated to a position in which this alignment is achieved when the entire chair 1 is adjusted to a folded position.

From such a folded position as indicated in FIG. 2 the chair may be opened to either of the positions shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 by rotation of the front legs '14 as previously described and by substantially simultaneous or initial or control of the position of the arm rests 32. If during such rotation of thelegs 14 to such an open position either of the arm rests 32 is restrained in a position as indicated in FIG. 2 of the drawing so as to remain generally along a back leg 12 when the chairis completely opened it will appear as indicated in FIG. 3 of the drawing. If, on the other hand, either of the arm rests 32 is pushed slightly so as to be rotated generally away from a back leg 12 the braces 38 transmit rotation so as to cause the chair to assume the open position indicated in FIG. 1 of the drawing.

The particular chair 10 illustrated preferably also includes known brackets 46 which are adapted to receive conventional projections 48 on a removable food tray 56. These brackets 46 are located on the extremities of the arm rests 32 adjacent to the pivot pins 34. The chair 10 (also preferably carries a known type of removable foot rest 52 capable of being moved between positions in which it can be used by a child sitting upon the seat bottom 24 to an out of the way position in which it is located generally between the seat bottom 24. In the construction shown this foot rest 52 is pivotally connected to the seat bottom 24 by wires 54 which extend from the fifth pivot pins 42. The positions of the foot rest 52 may be located in use and no use positions by locating a conventional wire yoke attached to it within various parts of a notched slot 58 formed in the bracket 28.

From the aforegoing description it Will be realized that in the chair 10 the parts designated in this specification as back legs 12 serve as support members. In achieving the results of this invention it is not necessary that these back legs 12 be connected to the front legs 14 in the precise manner shown in the drawing. Neither is it necessary that the back legs 12 and the front legs 14 be connected so as to achieve a folding action in conjunction with the seat bottom 24 in the precise manner indicated. The basic principles of this invention require what amounts to a linkage system attached to a support member so that two pivot points are located upon this support member and so that a brace or link interconnects parts extending from these two pivot points, as well as proportioning the distance between the pivot points employed in this type of system so as to achieve a toggle type of structure which may be folded to different positions as indicated.

Although the present invention is primarily concerned with childrens folding high chairs which are designed to be used as high chairs, as chairs having arms or as chairs which do not have arms it will be realized that the principles of this invention can be employed with folding chairs having various other types of intended utility. Thus, for example, it is considered that the type of folding mechanism concerning an arm rest located at one side of a chair as herein described can be satisfactorily employed for various types of folding chairs for scholastic or other use where only a single arm rest is required for support and/or writing purposes.

We claim:

1. In a folding chair having two front legs and two back legs, one of said front legs and one of said back legs being located at each side of said chair, first pivot means interconnecting the legs at each side of said chair intermediate the ends of said connected legs, said first pivot means being aligned so as to permit said legs to be rotated from a closed position in which the upper extremities of said front legs are located adjacent to said back legs to an open position in which the upper extremities of said front legs are spaced from said back legs, a seat extending between said legs, second pivot means being aligned with one another and connecting said seat to the inside of said back legs above said first pivot means, and means carried by said seat for limiting movement of said front legs between said open and said closed position, the improvement in said folding chair which comprises:

an arm located adjacent to each of said back legs on the outsides of said back legs opposite to the sides of said back legs to which the seat is pivoted, the extremities of each of said arms remote from said back legs being unconnected; third pivot means aligned with one another and connecting the extremity of each of said arms to the back leg adjacent thereto; brace means extending between the extremities of each of said arms remote from said back legs and the extremity of said seat remote from said back leg; fourth pivot means aligned with one another connecting each of said braces to the arm adjacent to it; fifth pivot means aligned with one another connecting each of said braces to said seat, said pivot means being located so that the distances between said third and fourth pivot means plus the distance between said fourth and fifth pivot means are fixed and are such that during rotation of said front legs to said folded position said seat is rotated so that said third, fourth and fifth pivot means are aligned with one another, so that in unfolding said front legs can be rotated to said open position with said arm rests extending generally along said back legs and with said fourth pivot means below said seat, and

so that in unfolding said front legs can be rotated in an open position with said arm rests extending arms are rigidly connected together in back of said back legs.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Wilson Apr. 20, 1875 6 Southard Dec. 8, 1903 Baker Oct. 31, 1933 Gethner Sept. 1, 1953 Adler Oct. 4, 1955 Ross June 19, 1956 Gill Mar. 7, 1961 FOREIGN PATENTS Germany Sept. 13, 1888 Germany Feb. 1, 1924 Great Britain Nov. 21, 1956 France Jan. 4, 1960 

1. IN A FOLDING CHAIR HAVING TWO FRONT LEGS AND TWO BACK LEGS, ONE OF SAID FRONT LEGS AND ONE OF SAID BACK LEGS BEING LOCATED AT EACH SIDE OF SAID CHAIR, FIRST PIVOT MEANS INTERCONNECTING THE LEGS AT EACH SIDE OF SAID CHAIR INTERMEDIATE THE ENDS OF SAID CONNECTED LEGS, SAID FIRST PIVOT MEANS BEING ALIGNED SO AS TO PERMIT SAID LEGS TO BE ROTATED FROM A CLOSED POSITION IN WHICH THE UPPER EXTREMITIES OF SAID FRONT LEGS ARE LOCATED ADJACENT TO SAID BACK LEGS TO AN OPEN POSITION IN WHICH THE UPPER EXTREMITIES OF SAID FRONT LEGS ARE SPACED FROM SAID BACK LEGS, A SEAT EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID LEGS, SECOND PIVOT MEANS BEING ALIGNED WITH ONE ANOTHER AND CONNECTING SAID SEAT TO THE INSIDE OF SAID BACK LEGS ABOVE SAID FIRST PIVOT MEANS, AND MEANS CARRIED BY SAID SEAT FOR LIMITING MOVEMENT OF SAID FRONT LEGS BETWEEN SAID OPEN AND SAID CLOSED POSITION, THE IMPROVEMENT IN SAID FOLDING CHAIR WHICH COMPRISES: AN ARM LOCATED ADJACENT TO EACH OF SAID BACK LEGS ON THE OUTSIDES OF SAID BACK LEGS OPPOSITE TO THE SIDES OF SAID BACK LEGS TO WHICH THE SEAT IS PIVOTED, THE EXTREMITIES OF EACH OF SAID ARMS REMOTE FROM SAID BACK LEGS BEING UNCONNECTED; THIRD PIVOT MEANS ALIGNED WITH ONE ANOTHER AND CONNECTING THE EXTREMITY OF EACH OF SAID ARMS TO THE BACK LEG ADJACENT THERETO; BRACE MEANS EXTENDING BETWEEN THE EXTREMITIES OF EACH OF SAID ARMS REMOTE FROM SAID BACK LEGS AND THE EXTREMITY OF SAID SEAT REMOTE FROM SAID BACK LEG; FOURTH PIVOT MEANS ALIGNED WITH ONE ANOTHER CONNECTING EACH OF SAID BRACES TO THE ARM ADJACENT TO IT; FIFTH PIVOT MEANS ALIGNED WITH ONE ANOTHER CONNECTING EACH OF SAID BRACES TO SAID SEAT, SAID PIVOT MEANS BEING LOCATED SO THAT THE DISTANCES BETWEEN SAID THIRD AND FOURTH PIVOT MEANS PLUS THE DISTANCE BETWEEN SAID FOURTH AND FIFTH PIVOT MEANS ARE FIXED AND ARE SUCH THAT DURING ROTATION OF SAID FRONT LEGS TO SAID FOLDED POSITION SAID SEAT IS ROTATED SO THAT SAID THIRD, FOURTH AND FIFTH PIVOT MEANS ARE ALIGNED WITH ONE ANOTHER, SO THAT IN UNFOLDING SAID FRONT LEGS CAN BE ROTATED TO SAID OPEN POSITION WITH SAID ARM RESTS EXTENDING GENERALLY ALONG SAID BACK LEGS AND WITH SAID FOURTH PIVOT MEANS BELOW SAID SEAT, AND SO THAT IN UNFOLDING SAID FRONT LEGS CAN BE ROTATED IN AN OPEN POSITION WITH SAID ARM RESTS EXTENDING GENERALLY PARALLEL TO SAID SEAT AND WITH SAID FOURTH PIVOT MEANS ABOVE SAID SEAT. 